TIME Coolest Inventions 2004: Chroino Robot

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WALK TALL
Chroino Robot

Inventor: Tomotaka Takahashi, Robo-Garage, Kyoto University
Availability: Prototype Only
The Chroino, above—if we didn't know any better, we'd think it was Playmobil's tribute to Marvin the Martian—also boasts a more graceful stride, thanks to new SHIN-Walk technology that allows the 14-in. robot to maintain an even center of gravity and avoid the awkward bent-knee technique common to other walking bots.

Next: Sword Unmanned Vehicle

BY ANITA HAMILTON, MARYANNE MURRAY BUECHNER, LEV GROSSMAN, SIMON CRITTLE AND SORA SONG / WITH REPORTING BY HANNA KITE AND YUKI ODA/TOKYO